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As in the days of Noah...
In Proverbs God talks of a generation with ungodly characteristics.
There is a generation that curseth their father, and
doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own
eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. -- Proverbs 30:11-12
In 2 Timothy the apostle Paul provides a prophetic profile or 'checklist' of
the identifying characteristics of 'the generation' who will see the unfolding
of the end time prophecies.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away. -- 2 Timothy 3:1-5
What a List! I encourage you to read it again; this time with the news
headlines in front of you.
Let's take a moment to summarize through this verse. Follow along and see for
yourself how many seem to fit today's headlines and society. (note these are not
in order of the verse but rather organized by theme)
- Lovers of Own Selves, boasters, proud, blasphemers, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away - full of pride and
arrogance a mocking independence from God honoring only Man not the creator.
- Covetous (Lovers of Money) - It seems that all society does is
strive for more money..... the pursuit of money is the only goal and the
acquiring of money.. the only success. The want of more and to acquire
things and want what other’s have.
- Disobedient to Parents - defiant children, disrespectful.
- Unthankful - No recognition of from where blessings come.
- Without natural affection – Disrespect for human life. Violence
- Slanderers, without Self Control - This comes straight out of the
arrogance and the thought that Man is superior and can do anything.
Disrespect.
- Without natural affection – The disrespect of human life,
murders, abortion etc.
- Trucebreakers, Traitors, False Accusers – It’s all around us.
Everyone worried about me, me me.. and could care less about loving others
as you love yourself. 9) Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God –
Look at all the ways that we have found to entertain ourselves and bring us
pleasure. We have an emptiness that we try to fill with earthly things, that
we should be seeking in God.
These 8 points certainly describe the pulse of the days we live in do they
not?. With everyday that I read the news and look for prophetic headlines, there
are far, far too many of them that are relevant to this 2 Timothy passage. Let’s
have a last look again at the first verse in this passage:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come”. – 2 Timothy 3:1
The word perilous translated from the Greek means “difficult, dangerous,
fierce or perilous”. The only other time this word ‘chalepos’ is used in
the bible is found in Matthew 8:28 where it is used to describe a man who had
demons and was out of control; Wild like an untamed animal – savage.
Author Stephen Covey, in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
Families, provides an insight into our lives today.
“Over the past thirty years, the situation for families has changed
powerfully and dramatically. Illegitimate birth rates have increased more that
400 percent. The percentage of families headed by a single parent has more
than tripled. The divorce rate has more that doubled. Teenage suicide has
increased almost 300 percent. Scholastic Aptitude Test scores among all
students have dropped seventy-three points. The number one health problem for
American women today is domestic violence. One fourth of all adolescents
contract a sexually transmitted disease before they graduate from high school.”
Covey goes on to mention another startling fact. Do you know what the most
reported problems in the 1940 school classrooms were? Covey mentions them:
- Talking out of turn;
- Chewing gum;
- Making noise;
- Running in the halls;
- Cutting in line;
- Dress code infractions; and
- Littering
For a comparison let’s have a look at the problems within the schools of
the 1990’s were:
- Drug abuse;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Pregnancy;
- Suicide;
- Rape;
- Theft;
- Assault;
Friends… these are savage times. Timothy tells us that perilous (chalepos)
times shall come… what we need to realize is that these days HAVE come. They
are not coming... they are here.
A Generation of Liars?
Take a look at what is said in 2 Timothy 3:13:
"Evil men and impostors [seducers] will grow
worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” -- 2 Tim 3:13
Author Craig Crawford says the following.
"The Scriptures tell us God cannot lie and He hates all liars. God
says truth is non-negotiable and is fundamental to His law. In the past, liars
and perjurers were dealt with harshly and severely. Today we see lying
casually accepted and even presented as funny or harmless. In God’s eyes,
elected leaders of a democracy are mirrors which reflect the people who
elected them and willingly keep them in office. As noted, telling the truth is
fundamental to God’s law. In the Bible we find when a nation and its
leader(s) defiantly mock, ignore, and turn their backs on God’s law, God
will turn His back on that nation and remove His protection and blessings from
that people. God help us. The future of that people and nation is usually
very, very grim. The other distressing thing found in this prophecy is God
warning us the deception and lying will continue to grow even worse and worse.
The leaders of “this generation” will not only disobey and ignore God’s
laws but will even brand God’s laws as “intolerant” and will somehow
twist obedience to God’s laws into “hate.”
Hmmm....sounds familiar doesn't it.
2 Peter also gives some additional insight into the 'heartbeat' of the last
days:
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in
the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is
the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." -- 2 Peter
3:3-4
The world seems to be full of scoffers. They look at us Christians and
say…..Ha….you're dreaming? Where is this Christ? It’s all a dream…. It’s
not real… you’ve been duped. “This generation” will ridicule those who
take the warnings of the Bible seriously and wait in faith. What will
people “scoff” at? What events constitute “the promise of His coming?”
The world will scoff at those of us who believe and they themselves will blindly
believe that life here on earth will simply ‘evolve’ and that we will move
on as we always have. This mentality is echoed in the words of
Isaiah.
“Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, and we
will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and
much more abundant.” -- Isa 56:12
And yet the prophecy and the scriptures say that life will not continue
endlessly as it is now. For God has always had a plan for this
world, and it seems as though the last phase of the plan is unfolding before our
eyes.
Maranatha!
-- J.R.Hall
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